Every GRE test is going to have a few math questions that are very difficult. Upon seeing them, you may become completely flustered and believe that there is no way you are able to solve such a question. Oftentimes this is not the case. Rather, you fall into any number of traps that prevent you from solving a problem that is well within your ability.

Below are five important points to keep in mind when you are dealing with a difficult GRE math problem.

Do not get flustered

It is very easy to become flustered on difficult math problems, especially word problems. One reason our normal breathing quickly changes to short, agitated breaths is we start reading and re-reading the same question over again. Hope that by the fourth read we will finally get it. At this point, re-reading is clearly an example of diminishing—and frustrating—returns. What to do?…

Let your brain decipher the question

It often may take about 30-seconds—and a couple (and only a couple) of calm rereads of the question—to decipher a complicated math question. After all, it is complicated. Deciphering the question means understanding what the question is asking. Next, find the solution path. To do so, think—or even write down—the necessary steps to get to the solution.

A few pieces of good news: you can take longer on complicated questions. After all, there aren’t too many of them. Just make sure to solve the easy and medium questions quickly and accurately. Secondly, you can always come back to a question. Sometimes, it is easier to decode the second time around.

Read the question carefully

Sometimes a problem seems much more complicated than it actually is. The reason is we are misreading a word, or injecting or own word into the question. We spend several minutes laboring through difficult equations only to realize that none of the answer choices matches up with our answer. To avoid this make you sure you don’t rush through the question. Instead, read carefully, and know what the question is asking before attempting the question.

Know when to back off

The great thing about the New GRE, vs. the old format, is that you can come back to questions. Sadly, many students do not take advantage of this and are unable to pull themselves from a question once they’ve bitten their teeth into it. But knowing when to unclench that jaw is very important. If a minute has gone by and you are unable to make sense of the question, move on! That question is worth the same number of points, so there is no point in wasting precious minutes on it.

Return with a fresh mind

The best thing about being able to come back to questions is your brain is able to make sense of the question a lot more easily the second time around. What seemed cryptic and inscrutable now seems much clearer.